Teen Programming Guide - Young Adult Services Division Ohio Library Council www.olc.org/YoungAdult.asp
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Teen Programming Guide
Young Adult Services Division
Ohio Library Council
www.olc.org/YoungAdult.asp
1
12/10
Fall 2010
Dear Colleague,
We know you’re doing more with less. We know your time is valuable. We also know you
run out of ideas sometimes. This manual has been put together by many talented people
across our great state through the Ohio Library Council’s Young Adult Services Division.
These are the people who are on the front lines with you.
These monthly suggestions are meant to assist you in your effort to reach teens through
innovative and creative program and displays. Our hope is that you refer to this manual
often and use it to spark your interest in creating programs that will work for you…in your
library….with your teens.
Many thanks to the dedicated crew who made this project possible:
Ann Pechacek- Worthington Libraries
Robyn Vittek- Akron Libraries
Gretchen Yonata-Dayton Metropolitan Libraries
Becky O’Neil- Westerville Library
Dawn Sardes- Euclid Public Library
Carrie Vale- Harrison Branch Library, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton
County
James Nagy-Massillon Library
Jennifer Atkinson-Granville Public Library
Here’s to you!
Chanda Smith, 2010 Coordinator, OLC Young Adult Services Division
2
Table of Contents:
January…………………… Chinese New Year………………………………………………….p. 4
February………………… Anti-Valentine Party……………………………………………...p. 6
Mardi Gras Masks………………………………………………....p. 9
March …………………… Teen Tech Week……………………………………………………p. 11
March Madness…………………………………………..…………..p. 16
April …………………… National Library Week………………………………………..………p. 17
“Get Carded” Event.…………………………………….………..p. 17
Women’s History Month……………………………….…………p. 19
National Poetry Month-Book Spine Poems….………..p. 19
May …………………… Comic Book Day………………………………………………………p. 20
Indi 500 Racing……………………………………………………….p. 20
June, July, August …… Summer Reading……………………………………………….……p. 22
Flip-Flop Workshop…………………………………………….….p. 24
Fake Photo Contest………………………………………………..p. 26
National Clown Week…………………………………………….p. 27
Buckeye Kickoff…………………………………………….……….p. 29
Invent A Holiday……………………………………………….……p. 31
Pride Celebrations………………………………………….………p. 32
September…………… Teen Choice Awards…………………………………….………..p. 33
October………………… Teen Read Week……………………………………………….…..p. 35
Candy Sushi……………………………………………………………p. 35
November……………… Japanese Culture Day…………………………………….……..p. 39
Buckeye Book Award………………………………….….………p. 40
December………………… Crossword Challenge…………………………………..…….…..p. 42
Euchre Tournament…………………………………...………….p. 43
3
CHINESE NEW YEAR
Description: To celebrate the Chinese New Year, teens will create a traditional Chinese
Paper Lantern, sample various Chinese foods, and write their own fortunes.
Program Type: Active, one-time
Required Supplies:
Chinese paper lantern craft kits
Watercolor paint and brushes, cups to rinse brushes, etc.
Newspaper, materials to cover tables
Chinese food
Plates, napkins, soda, drinks, etc.
Chopsticks (optional)
Fortune cookies
Pens, paper
Chinese Zodiac Info printouts or placemats for everyone
Approximate Cost: $60-100, depending on food choices and group size
Chinese Paper Lantern kits, $8-10/dozen at Oriental Trading Company
Watercolor paints and brushes $10-20
Chinese Food $20-50
Misc. refreshments $20
Fortune Cookies $5
Program Length: 2-3 hours, depending on activities
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
1+ months prior – Confirm date of Chinese New Year, schedule program on
library calendar. Design and print flyers. Order/purchase supplies to make paper
lanterns.
2-3 weeks prior – Hang flyers in library, promote event on teen blog and in
person. Consider food options for Chinese food. Request related books for display
and review.
4
2 days prior - day of event – Order/purchase Chinese food. Assemble supplies to
paint lanterns. Review books on Chinese culture and Chinese New Year, making
notes for discussion. Cut tiny slips of paper for teens to make their own fortunes.
Staff Requirements: 1-2 adults to supervise program
Collection Connection/ Related Books:
Create a mini display of the following YA Fiction related titles:
American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang, 2006
Dead Man’s Gold and Other Stories, Paul Yee, Harvey Chan, 2002
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society, Adeline Yen Mah,
2004
Seeing Emily, Joyce Lee Wong, 2005
Teen Feng Shui: Design Your Life, Design Your Space, Susan Levitt,
2003
Ties that Bind, Ties that Break, Lensey Namioka, 1999
For reference and planning:
Chinese New Year, Catherine Chambers, 1997
Chinese New Year, Dianne M. MacMillan, 1994
Chinese New Year, Leslie Kaplan, 2004
Program Details:
Program designed to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Teens begin by making Chinese paper
lanterns. During the lantern making, discuss Chinese New Year traditions and custom.
Teens will also sample various Chinese foods. These can be exotic or traditional
“Americanized Chinese” cuisine. Local Chinese restaurants and Chinese/Asian markets will
have a variety of offerings. May want to combine traditional (spring rolls, egg rolls, wonton
soup, etc.) with more exotic offerings from a Chinese market. Teens can finish with fortune
cookies, share their fortunes, and then attempt to write their own fortune cookies.
Optional Activities:
Include a discussion of the Chinese Zodiac, possibly setting each place with a
Chinese Zodiac placement (available online, may also be in Chinese markets).
Play Wii Mario & Sonic at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Future Dates of Chinese New Year:
2011 Feb 3
2012 Jan 23
5
ANTI-VALENTINE’S DAY JEOPARDY
Description: This program takes the opposite of love, happiness, and having that special
someone, and turns it into a Jeopardy game for teens to play. Teens will crush their
opponents with their knowledge of Anti-Valentine’s Day facts, music, movies, books, and so
much more.
Program Type: Active, one time
Required Supplies:
User-friendly and interactive Jeopardy PowerPoint presentation
(http://www.olc.org/PowerPoint Presentations/YA-Anti-
ValentinesDayJeopardy.ppt)
LCD projector, a laptop or a computer installed with Microsoft PowerPoint (or
“Impress,” the open-source version of PowerPoint, available free of charge from
http://www.openoffice.org)
A screen or blank wall on which to project the PowerPoint presentation
A method for contestants to “buzz in” to respond to the clues (e.g., noise-
makers, flashlights, etc.)
A method of keeping score
Refreshments
Prizes are optional
Approximate Cost: Free, except for the cost of the refreshments and if you want to give
away prizes
Program Length: 30 minutes - 1 hour, depending on attendance and knowledge of the
game!
Planning / Promotion Timeline:
1+ month prior – Decide on desired program length depending if you want to add
other party activities to this Anti-Valentine’s Day game. Schedule event on library
calendar. Create and print flyers. Start developing current questions and answers
to plug into the Jeopardy PowerPoint. Possibly look for donations from local
organizations for prizes!
3 weeks prior – Hang flyers in library, start entering answers and questions into
the PowerPoint presentation, promote event on teen blog, local newspapers,
schools, etc. Identify possible volunteers to assist with program.
6
1-2 days prior- Check the equipment to make sure it is in good working
condition. (Don’t forget to make sure all of your questions and answers are
entered and working!) Confirm volunteers, purchase refreshments and prizes,
gather supplies needed and do any other prep work for the game.
Staff Requirements: 1-2 adults to assist and supervise with the activity
Program Resources: A special thank you to Raymond Lee of the Brookville Branch of the
Dayton Metro Library for creating the Jeopardy PowerPoint presentation
(http://www.olc.org/PowerPoint Presentations/YA-Anti-ValentinesDayJeopardy.ppt). This
Jeopardy board can be used in various programming and not just the special Anti-
Valentine’s Day Jeopardy!
Program Details:
Anti-Valentine’s Day Jeopardy is a teen program with a variety of questions and answers on
a Jeopardy PowerPoint presentation. I have attached a sample game to give you an idea,
but a few of the questions may be “out of date” within a few months, depending on when
you will next use the game.
Anti-Valentine’s Day Jeopardy is based off of the American quiz show, Jeopardy, but this
one features trivia in topics such as movies, music, famous breakups within the past year,
and so much more. The twist, however, is that they all relate to the Anti-Valentine’s Day
theme. This game has a unique answer-and-question format in which contestants are
presented with clues in the form of answers and must phrase their responses in question
form.
This sample game will be a great way to celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Day, or as great addition
to any Anti-Valentine’s Day party. Please feel free to make any changes to the PowerPoint
presentation to best suit your library and your teens!
Directions: (This is assuming you have all of your answers and questions entered into the
presentation.)
1. Open the PowerPoint presentation.
2. Make sure you are on slide “1” of the presentation with the title page.
3. Hit: “Shift + F5” to start the presentation.
4. Click once on the mouse to view the categories.
5. Click once more on the mouse to view the board.
6. Once you are in view of the board, move your mouse to view the pointer arrow on
the screen. You are now able to select individual squares from the categories on the
board.
7. Have the teens choose their category and money increment on the screen. Click on
the increment once. (In order to reveal the correct clue you will need to click on the
actual money increment, making sure that you are using the hand-shaped cursor. If
you click elsewhere in the clue box, using the arrow-shaped cursor, it will always
reveal the answer for the top clue in the far-left category.)
8. The answer will now appear. (Just like in the TV show, the host gives the “answer”
and the contestants give the corresponding “question.”) Read the answer to the
teens and, after determining who buzzed in first, wait for their response. (If the
teens do not answer within the time allotted for a response [that time allotted is
7
chosen by the host], then they will have the money increment of the answer taken
away from their score.) In order to view the correct question, move the mouse until
the pointer arrow is visible and then click with the mouse on the box labeled: “Click
for Question.” If the teens provide the wrong question to the answer then the money
increment is subtracted from their score. If the teens provide the correct question to
the answer then the money increment is added to their score.
9. Once you have revealed the question to the teens it is time to go back to the main
board. Move the mouse until the pointer arrow is visible and then click on the box
labeled: “Back to the Board.”
10. You will now see the main board and the box that was just chosen should be shaded,
letting you know that that box within that category was already selected. Repeat
steps 6-9 until all boxes are shaded and round one is completed.
“Daily Double Boxes” – There are at least 1-2 boxes on the main board that are hidden
“Daily Double Boxes.” The group or teen that selected this box on the main board may
wager a selected money increment of their choice (in multiples of $100) instead of wagering
the “given” money increment labeled on the box. Only the group or teen that selected this
specific “Daily Double Box” may wager and provide a question to the answer. It is not open
to the entire group.
Directions for Double Jeopardy
1. Now that you have completed the first round of Jeopardy you are ready to proceed
to “Double Jeopardy.” There are a few things you will need to do in order to view the
next board. First of all hit the “Esc” key in order for you to be back in the “Normal
View.” The slides should now be on your left with the selected slide in view.
2. Scroll the slides down until you see the “Round 2 Categories.” On the sample game
provided to you with this handout (see attachment), the slide that you want to select
is slide “80.”
3. Make sure the slide is selected for the Round 2 Categories and hit “Shift + F5.”
4. Click once to get to the Double Jeopardy Board.
5. Play the Double Jeopardy round following the same directions used for the first
found.
Final Jeopardy
1. Now that you have completed the second round of Jeopardy (Double Jeopardy) you
are ready to proceed to “Final Jeopardy.” In order to access the Final Jeopardy
round, you will basically follow the same directions used to access the Double
Jeopardy round. First of all hit the “Esc” key in order for you to be back in the
“Normal View.” The slides should now be on your left with the selected slide in view.
2. Scroll the slides down until you see the “Final Jeopardy Slide.” On the sample game
provided to you with this handout (see attachment), the slide that you want to select
is slide “159.”
3. Make sure the slide is selected for the “Final Jeopardy” and hit “Shift + F5” on the
keyboard.
4. A topic can be selected by the host for the final answer and question. On the sample
provided here for you the topic is “anything that the host chooses.” Teens will then
wager with money increments of $100. Do not proceed until all the teens have their
wagers in to the host.
5. The host will then click once for the Final Jeopardy answer. (On this specific sample,
the game’s question and answer was not given in the PowerPoint Presentation.) The
8
host will give each teen or groups of teen an allotted time to write their question on
a piece of paper. No one at this point will share their questions.
6. After time is allotted, the host will then move the mouse until the arrow pointer is
visible. The host will then click on “Click for Question.”
7. The question is then revealed. The host will either subtract or add the amount of
money wagered to each group or teen’s score, based on whether they got their
question correct or incorrect, and the host will come up with the final winner of
today’s program and award prizes, if applicable.
MARDI GRAS MASKS
Description: Celebrate Mardi Gras with mask making and a traditional king cake.
Program Type: Active, one-time
Required Supplies:
Masks
Craft glue or hot glue gun
Decorating materials such as feathers, beads, sequins, glitter, fake jewels, plastic
coins, mylar scraps, etc.
Beads, coins
King cake
Cajun or Zydeco music
Approximate Cost: $30-60 total
Masks are less than $5/dozen from Oriental Trading Company
Beads are less than $10 for 2-4 dozen from OTC
King Cake $10-30
Punch/lemonade, plates, etc. less than $10
Program Length: 1 hour
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
1+ months prior – Schedule event on library calendar (to coincide with Mardi
Gras), design marketing materials.
3 weeks prior – Post donation request (if needed) for craft supplies to decorate
masks, post flyers, promote event on blog, order or purchase masks and beads.
2 weeks prior – Order king cake or purchase supplies to make king cake, promote
event to teens.
1 day prior – gather supplies, pick up, or make king cake.
Staff Requirements: 1 staff member to supervise
9
Program Source: 101+ Teen Programs That Work, RoseMary Honnold, 2003
Program Details:
In celebration of Mardi Gras, teens will make mardi gras masks, wear beads and share a
traditional king cake. Cajun or zydeco music can be played, everyone gets beads and coins,
and king cake is served after everyone has made a mask. Mask making supplies may
already be on hand from other craft projects.
Yankee Trader in downtown Columbus will also carry mardi gras masks, beads, coins, and
the plastic baby needed to make a king cake.
To reduce costs a king cake could be made at home and coins and beads could be
eliminated.
Local bakeries that offer king cakes during Mardi Gras (Columbus area):
La Chatelaine Bakery, $19.95, serves 8-10
http://www.lachatelainebakery.com/reviewsdetail.asp?reviewID=12
Tremont Goodie Shop, Upper Arlington - http://www.tremont-goodieshop.com/
Piece of Cake, Short North http://www.shortnorthpieceofcake.com/
Suisse Shop Bakery, Polaris Parkway, http://thesuisseshop.com/
Website with king cake recipes:
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=article&categ
ory_id=43&article=17835 (good directions, with several photos)
http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/cake.htm (extremely easy recipe using cinnamon rolls
for the dough, could probably be modified to make a larger cake)
http://www.mardigrasday.com/mardigras/kcrecip.php (traditional New Orleans recipe)
Good sites with Mardi Gras Facts: (can be used for trivia or general discussion of
holiday)
http://reference.aol.com/fast-facts/holidays?id=20060222180909990001
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/
10TEEN TECH WEEK!
Links for this article are available at:
http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2010/
teen-tech-week-create-share-learn-your-library/#footnote_0_1963.
Have you ever noticed how many special events there are in library-land? National Library
Week, Read Across America Day, Teen Read Week, National Poetry Month, National
Children’s Book Week—it becomes difficult to keep track! As much fun as it would be, it’s
pretty much impossible to celebrate or even acknowledge each and every one of these.
When used discriminately, however, they make a great marketing tool for the library to use
in promoting programs and materials and can even aid in fulfilling the goals of vision
statements and library missions.
One of the newest national initiatives, Teen Tech Week has been celebrated by ALA’s Young
Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) since 2007. According to the YALSA website,
“The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of
technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries such as DVDs, databases,
audiobooks, and videogames. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries’ nonprint
resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted
professionals in the field of information technology.”1 [1]
(http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw10/home10.cfm)
I like In the Library with the Lead Pipe, and I was really pleased when they asked to write
an article, especially once we decided that Teen Tech Week would be my topic. One of the
things that makes In the Library valuable for me is its goal [2]
(http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/about/)
, “to explore new ideas and start conversations; to
document our concerns and argue for solutions.” Teen Tech week is a great fit with the first
part of that goal, but not a great fit for the second. Honestly, I wouldn’t know how to
criticize Teen Tech Week, constructively or otherwise—there’s just not a lot to criticize. (It’s
not that I think ALA/YALSA is perfect or anything, but that’s a different article.) Teen Tech
Week is just so open-ended and flexible, you don’t pay anything to participate, YALSA’s
artwork and promotional materials are excellent—and with a free program I think there’s
not a lot of expectation, so whatever you get from YALSA and provide for your teens seems
good. I haven’t encountered any problems with it, and other than an aversion to technology
in my personal life (I love my job, don’t get me wrong about that—I’m just a little more
old-fashioned at heart than your usual early-thirties teen librarian), have no problems with
technology-based programming, so I really have no criticisms.
What’s great about Teen Tech Week is that it gives us a built-in reason to push ourselves to
get creative in our technology programming, to plan gaming events and listening parties, to
investigate texting and social networking, and to push our non-print library materials. Many
teens use the internet and other technologies almost to the exclusion of books as their
11source of entertainment and information, which can make me reluctant to immerse myself
in the world of chats and playlists and fanvids. I spend my personal time gardening and
baking bread, and would prefer to spend more of my work time planning traditional book
groups and teen advisory board (TAB) events, but the fact is that many teens prefer texting
to talking, RSS to reading a book, and gaming to gardening. The methods and merchandise
sold to them—very effectively, I might add—is what they’re using, what their friends are
using, and, therefore, what we should be using to engage them.
Getting Teens Into the Library
Ultimately, we want teens to visit the library. Besides being, as we are so often reminded,
the next crop of voters, teens are energetic, dynamic, and contagious—when teens latch on
to something, they tell their friends. Who tell their friends. Who… you get the picture. These
are the kind of patrons we want to attract, right? Right. What is this generation known for
more than anything else? They are one of the first generations to grow up completely
immersed in technology—the internet has always been available to them. To get these kids
to make the library ‘TheirSpace,’ we have to make them aware of all the wonders housed
within, not only the books.
Although teens are familiar with the internet and internet-based gadgets (usually before we
are) and feel comfortable using them, they don’t always use them to their best advantage.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project reports that 71% of teens use the internet as
their primary source for school projects,2 [3] (http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-
Adults.aspx)
but many of those same students need guidance in using the internet effectively.
By promoting Teen Tech Week, you’re helping to let teens know that the librarians at your
facility are information experts—dynamic, interested, up-to-date adults that they can turn to
for help with their information needs, and not just encyclopedia pushers.
Something else to keep in mind when working with teen patrons—you won’t necessarily
meet them face to face. Their comfort with e-communication means they are more likely to
want to text you or ask a question on Facebook chat than to drop by for a visit. A brand
new study from Pew mentions that 73% of ‘wired teens’ now use social networking sites,
and 75% of teens surveyed own a cell phone.3 [4] (http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-
Young-Adults.aspx)
To really connect with teen patrons, we need to reach out to them where they
are, using the channels they’re most likely to use, rather than wait for them to come to us.
Granted, some of us may not feel entirely comfortable using these technologies, but
celebrating Teen Tech Week in your library is a great excuse to make yourself more
comfortable! Every year, YALSA generates a new theme for Teen Tech Week that is general
enough to work in a wide variety of ways to get the message across. This year’s theme is
“Create, Share, Learn @ Your Library.”
Getting Started
If you want to celebrate Teen Tech Week at your library, a great place to start is the Teen
Tech Week website [5] (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw10/faq.cfm). Here, you can
register for Teen Tech Week (registration closes mid-February, so if you’ve missed the
deadline for this year, keep it in mind for next year), and also find and share program ideas,
resources, and promotional tools. Registration is free, and occasionally sponsors will send
you incentives. Posters and bookmarks are available from the ALA store.
12One of the best features of the Teen Tech Week initiative is its flexibility. For instance, many
school districts take a spring break in the first few weeks of March. YALSA encourages you
to “feel free to celebrate Teen Tech Week at the best time for your library.”4 [6]
(http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw10/faq.cfm)
Each year there is a different theme, but
YALSA doesn’t get bent out of shape if you prefer not to use it. There’s an umbrella theme,
“Get Connected @ Your Library,” that you can use every year, and the promotional products
(like bookmarks) don’t always have the dates for Teen Tech Week listed, so you can use
them other years.
If you want to start on a small scale, there are plenty of ways to do it. Displays of
technology-oriented materials such as Playaways or books on CD, how-to books like Flash
Animation for Teens [7] (http://openlibrary.org/books/OL8899590M/Flash_Animation_for_Teens_(For_Teens) or The
Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design [8] (http://openlibrary.org/books/
OL18505839M/The_ultimate_guide_to_video_game_writing_and_design)
, or how-to-download-ebook
demonstrations are great ways to push stuff you already have in-house, and Teen Tech
Week helps create the focus to make these items more visible and relevant. The Teen Tech
Week website has some great resource lists to get you started.5 [9]
(http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw10/planyourevent.cfm)
Passive programs are a great fit for Teen Tech Week, especially if you’re just starting out, or
if your library staff is pressed for time to program. For instance, you could give prizes to
teens in the library if you see them using a handheld device— “Caught you texting!” Holding
a week-long scavenger hunt to highlight resources that use or promote the use of popular
or emerging technological tools is another low-maintenance idea. You could do a “Name
that Acronym” quiz —KWIM? Prizes can be cheap, like candy, ear buds, thumb drives, or
stickers and decals to decorate an iPod case—the ALA store even has this last prize for sale.
You don’t have to use working technology to have an awesome program during Teen Tech
Week. Ask your IT department (or ask around at local companies) for spare computer and
machine parts and make jewelry or funky sculptures. If you have a little money (or know
some boys who have outgrown their toys), get some R/C car parts, Erector sets, Legos and
the like and have a Robot-Building Contest. Even if you can’t get working motors, the robot
sculptures will be a blast to create and look really cool in the Teen area.
Going Virtual
If you are able to connect with your teens over the internet, and more and more library
systems are recognizing the necessity of maintaining an online presence, your possibilities
are practically endless. Internet scavenger hunts are easy, cheap, and fun for teens to
complete on their own time. Online quizzes can be created on websites like Quizilla [10]
(http://quizilla.teennick.com/)
or SurveyMonkey [11] (http://www.surveymonkey.com/) —they can be just silly, for-
fun, multiple choice quizzes (Who do you text most often?) or be used to gather real
information about which web sites your teens prefer, their favorite type of music, which
formats are used most frequently, etc. If you’re in a real time crunch, it could be something
as simple as, “Post a greeting (or comment on a book review, etc.) on the library Facebook
page this week, and get a prize! Pick your prize up at the teen desk the next time you visit.”
Not only are you celebrating Teen Tech Week, but it’s also a great way to let the teens know
about your library’s social networking sites. On the Akron-Summit County Public Library
blog/website for teens [12] (http://ascplteens.wordpress.com/), we often add quizzes and other
interactive posts. They can complement and promote in-house programming as well as
stand on their own.
13Book discussion groups can be moved to the virtual realm, onto sites like BookBundlz [13]
(http://www.bookbundlz.com/)
or Shelfari [14] (http://www.shelfari.com/). Sites like these can really come in
handy when travel is difficult, for teens who are too busy or can’t drive themselves to the
library to make a meeting, or for teens who have moved away, but still want to connect
with their friends ‘back home.’ The Denver Library uses part of their website for a virtual
Book Club—when you sign up, they’ll send you emails of a five-minute section of a book
chapter every day for a week. If your interest is piqued, you can come to the library and
check out the book to read the rest.6 [15]
(http://www.supportlibrary.com/su/su.cfm?x=23409&g=/nl/users/denver/images/denver-signup.jpg&qv)
Getting Media Into the Mix
If you have teen patrons who are more into writing than discussion, you could use the
comments function of your library blog to start a Round Robin story that the teens write
themselves. Post a paragraph or two of an original story, and let the teens continue it in
their comments. You’ll need to post a couple of guidelines and monitor submissions, but this
can be a lot of fun. This is only one way teens can use the internet to showcase their
creativity. Websites like Scratch [16] (http://scratch.mit.edu/) allow teens to animate tributes to their
favorite books, the library, or even create a basic video game. You could form a gallery on
the site to collect all submissions from your local teens, and ask them to vote for their
favorite projects.
Book trailers and short films are increasingly popular and a great fit for a library-based
program. Many teens can shoot short videos with their phones and cameras, but if your
library has basic video equipment, you can get far more creative and involve more teens.
Our library recently purchased a digital video camera at Target for $50, and one branch is
going to use it, along with our galley copies, to do some unscripted reviews to add to the
teen website. That’s inexpensive enough that many librarians would feel fine with their TAB
using it to create video shorts, film a short-scripted play, or do mock-interviews. Most
cameras have USB cords that allow you to connect them directly to your computer, and
there is free video-editing software available online.
If $50 is more than your library can afford, YALSA sometimes holds a mini-grant program
specifically for Teen Tech Week. In 2008 and 2009, they awarded forty $450 grants to
school and public libraries to fund special programs and services. Here are a few examples
from the list of last year’s winners (the rest are available on the YALSA Teen Tech Week
website—see footnote):
Baraboo Public Library in Baraboo, Wisconsin will be using [the] mini grant to
improve teen space in the library. A large, dark brick wall will soon be covered with a
bright high-tech mural designed by a local teen artist. Teens will learn how to wire
LED lights, construct LED clocks, and make a scrolling marquee as [they] combine
paint, electronic gadgets, and bling to create a unique and eye-catching focal point
for [the] teen area.
The Dorris Van Doren Regional Branch (El Paso Public Library System in Texas)
hosts Artech Fun: This program combines art and technology through the use of
Wacom’s Bamboo Fun Tablet. Funds will be used to purchase two digital drawing
tablets and a small collection of digital art books to help teens take their art to the
next level. Guest speakers will be invited to show teens how to use a digital drawing
tablet and talk about their careers. Teens will then be able to reserve time slots to
14work on two projects. The first project is to create promotional art for the summer
reading club and perhaps create an animated short. The second project is to create
or upload their own artwork to be showcased in an art show that they plan at the
library.
Bartow County Library System in Cartersville, Georgia’s Teen Advisory Board will
use Flip Mino video cameras to create instructional videos for patrons. The teens will
answer basic cell phone questions, explain how to use the online library catalog
including how to renew items and place holds, and show how to set up an email
account. These are just a few of the topics the instructional videos will cover. The
teens will film and edit the videos before posting them to the library website,
MySpace pages, and making DVDs that patrons can check out and take home.7 [17]
There are so many different directions you can go! It doesn’t have to be just ‘fun stuff.’ You
can make Teen Tech Week a meaningful and educational experience, and even give teens a
chance to ‘give back.’ Hold an old-cell phone drive in the teen area, and using your TAB or
regulars to help spread the word, and donate the phones you collect to a women’s shelter or
similar charity.
Talk to your children’s library staff and see if there is a way the teens can create a special
audio or video project reading or telling stories that younger kids could enjoy. Recorded
stories on CD for the little kids to take into a story tent or quiet corner to listen to on their
own or with a friend could be fun for the teens as well as the kids. Teens could record
reader’s theater renditions of favorite children’s tales, or even film a full-on original play,
with costumes and backdrops, to run on a loop on a TV in the corner of the Children’s
Library.
Teen Tech Week would be a wonderful time to kick off a Teen Tech Volunteer group who
uses their tech-savvy (with a little guidance and training) to assist adults with basic
computer usage, such as navigating the library website, using a search engine, or learning
word processing software. Often it’s hard to find the time to leave the circulation desk to
help patrons lacking these basic technology-use skills, especially at peak hours. Friendly,
willing teens could be just the solution, and it can be win-win if they need volunteer hours
for scouts, 4-H, or school.
Involving Your Peers
Speaking of school; be sure to let your local teachers and school library know about Teen
Tech Week, and how you plan to celebrate. They may want to help you promote your
events or even get involved themselves. Although teachers see teens even more often than
we public librarians do, sometimes they need a push to relate to them through technological
means, just like we do. The teen librarian/branch manager at our Richfield Branch, Jen
Stencel, was recently talking to a teacher about our Summer Reading Program, and
witnessed firsthand a mini-epiphany.
I was just at a 6-8 grade curriculum meeting this past Friday and afterwards I was
approached and spoke with the Special Ed teacher who was absolutely excited that we [the
library] count blogs and such for ‘reading’ during our summer reading. She was excited to
realize that reading blogs, posts, walls, e-mails, texts, IMs, etc., is just as much a reading
skill—not a traditional skill, but one just as vital, if not more so in today’s world—as reading
a book. This would surely excite her students, most of whom are tech-savvy, or at least
tech-comfy. We then went on to talking—with exclamation marks flying—and she realized
we let the kids count other technologies like Playaways and Kindles/Nooks for reading as
15well. She was going to introduce her kids to the Richfield Branch Shelfari site [18]
(http://www.shelfari.com/richfield)
. I’m not sure if she was going to do the book club part of it, but she
liked the idea of teens ’socializing’ over books and the ‘fun’ way it would get them to write
reviews and share comments.8 [19]
Conclusion
The exciting thing about Teen Tech Week is that it gives us an opportunity to explore and
learn to use all of the websites, gadgets, and formats that our library is purchasing, our
teens are bringing into the building, and we are reading about in professional journals and
magazines. It is a chance to let the teens know that libraries and librarians are not all about
books. We are interested in learning about and sharing all types of information resources,
and prove entertaining and cutting edge programming and services that occasionally dip
into the philanthropic or even (gasp!) educational arenas. When you choose to participate in
Teen Tech Week, it’s not only the teens who “Create, Share and Learn @ your Library.” The
staff will as well.
My thanks to Carrie Burrier, Lisa Manocchio, Sarah Rosenberger, and to Brett Bonfield for
their insight and suggestions for this post.
Robyn Vittek
MARCH MADNESS
Description: Passive program spread over the three weeks of the NCAA Men’s Division I
Basketball Championship in March.
Program Type: Passive, over three weeks. Can include an active program of showing one
game during the “Sweet 16” and serving refreshments, etc.
Required Supplies:
Printed tournament brackets
Poster board or large NCAA bracket that can be hung in teen area and updated
during tournament
Prize for best predictions
Approximate Cost: Free - $50, depending on prizes and activities
Program Length: Passive program will run approximately 3 weeks. If including an active
program to show one game live, active program will be equal to game length (2-3 hours).
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
1+ months prior – Add event to library calendar. Create and print flyers
promoting program.
2 weeks prior – Promote on teen blog and make brackets available online and in
teen areas.
16 1-2 days prior – Set deadline for tournament entries, create large updatable
tournament bracket and determine prize for tournament winner.
Staff Requirements: 1-2 staff/volunteers to oversee program and track tournament
predictions. 1-2 adults to monitor teens during playoff game program, if desired.
Collection Connection/ Related Books:
Basketball themed books, player biographies
Program Details: This is a passive program themed around the NCAA Men’s Basketball
Tournament in March. Provide tournament brackets (printable versions can be linked to
from teen blog) in teen area and have teens fill in their predictions. Keep all entries and
track predictions as games are played. At the end of the tournament, announce the winner
and provide a small prize. Brackets can be judged solely on the basis of wins or can use a
more complicated points system such as 10 points for picking the champion, 5 points for
each correct final four pick and 1 point for each correct pick. Printable brackets will be
available on several sites including ESPN.com prior to launch of tournament.
This can be combined with an active program of watching a live “Sweet 16” game. Due to
the schedules, it may not be possible to plan the exact time for a game too far in advance.
However, all games are on CBS and could be picked up by any TV with digital inputs or a
digital converter box. If television and space are available, event could be planned on short
notice. Set up a TV in the teen room, set out refreshments and run it like a semi-passive
program.
17Important Events this month: National Library Week, Women’s History Month, National
Poetry Month.
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
Also check ALA site for National Library Week grants from Scholastic, deadline is early
October.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/mediarelationsa/factsheets/nationallibraryweek.
cfm
This website could be used to set up a contest where kids have to guess as many movies as
they can where librarians are a character in the movie:
http://emp.byui.edu/raishm/films/introduction.html
Crayola has a collection of activities and craft ideas for National Library Week here:
http://www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_id=144&year=2006
GET CARDED @ YOUR LIBRARY
Description: Day or weeklong program celebrating National Library Week (second week of
April), encouraging teens to show their library cards.
Program Type: Passive, one day or one week program
Required Supplies: Small prizes such as candy or promo items, coupons for $1 off library
fines
Approximate Cost: Free - $20
Program Length: 1 day to 1 week
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
1+ months prior – Schedule program on library calendar. Design and print flyers.
Obtain approval (if necessary) for library fine coupons.
18 2-3 weeks prior – Promote program on teen blog and other teen spaces, post
flyers in library and teen room, promote event to teens and encourage them to
bring their cards in for event.
1-2 days prior – Purchase/gather prizes, decide of method of giving out prizes
and explain program to all staff working the teen area.
Staff Requirements: 1 staff member to oversee program, checking cards and giving
prizes.
Program Source: Adapted from an idea in More Teen Programs that Work, RoseMary
Honnold, 2005
Program Details:
This is a passive program celebrating National Library Week designed to reward teens for
having library cards. Run program as a day or week long event, promoting it in advance on
teen blogs, in person, library flyers, etc. During designated times, tell teens to show their
library card (or provide their card number) to a staff member in the teen area. When they
do so they will receive a small prize. If they do not have a library card, they can sign up for
one immediately and receive a prize. Prizes can be candy, small prizes and/or coupons for
$1 off library fines. Teens can either select or pull a prize from a display jar or draw a piece
of paper indicating their prize. Program is designed to reward teens with current library
cards, encourage teens to obtain or renew their library and give them a means to reduce
possible library fines. By forcing them to make the initial interaction of showing their library
card, it will reward them for interacting with library staff.
Upcoming National Library Weeks, courtesy of ALA:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/hqops/pio/mediarelationsa/factsheets/nationallibraryweek.
cfm
2011 - April 10-16 2012 - April 8-14 2013 - April 14-20
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
This site is for the National Women's History Project and the 2011 theme has been
announced: "Our History is our Strength"
http://www.nwhp.org/
Click on the "education and resources" tab of this link for great ideas from the National
Women's History Museum:
http://www.nwhm.org/
19NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
In honor of National Poetry Month, Becky O’ Neil from Westerville Library submitted this
idea for “Book Spine Poems”:
http://bookends.booklistonline.com/2010/03/18/book-spine-poem/
Here is an example:
This could be a display, program, or booktalk idea…all in one!
20May 1 is Free Comic Book Day! Do you have a comic book store in your community that
you could collaborate with to sponsor a Comic Book Swap Meet? If you’re looking for a quick
display idea, how about these word searches:
DC Comics Word Search - http://olc.org/pdf/YA-DCWordSearch.pdf
Marvel Comics Word Search - http://olc.org/pdf/YA-MarvelWordSearch.pdf
Word Search Answers - http://olc.org/pdf/YA-MarvelDCAnswers.pdf
INDY 500 – WII RACING
Description: Celebrate the “greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indianapolis 500, with a
program of Wii racing using Mario Kart.
Program Type: Active, one-time
Required Supplies:
Wii (or other gaming system), controllers, TV or projector, etc.
Mario Kart
May want to borrow “racing wheels” to use with Wii controllers
Approximate Cost: Less than $50, if gaming system is on hand
Game may be on hand, borrowed or rented from local stores
Refreshments should cost less than $20-30
Program Length: 1-3 hours, depending on gaming setup
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
1+ months prior – Schedule program on library event’s calendar, make
arrangements for needed materials.
2 weeks prior – Post flyers, recruit a volunteer to assist if needed, promote event
to teens in library, post request to borrow Wii gaming wheels (one per
controller).
1 day prior – Gather supplies, games, etc, purchase refreshments, copy trivia
questions if desired.
Staff Requirements: 1-2 staff/volunteers to supervise event and organize gaming
21Collection Connection/ Related Books: Can create a display of books on racing,
biographies of drivers, etc.
Program Details:
In honor of the Indianapolis 500 in May, teens can test their own racing skills with a Wii
Mario Kart gaming program. Encourage teens to create Mii’s named after their favorite
drivers. This can be done as a casual drop-in event or a more managed tournament. Can
also ask Indy 500 trivia questions during the event. Allow teens to bring gaming wheels if
they request to do so. Refreshments can be served on black and white checkered plates
and/or napkins to reflect racing theme. Refreshment idea - cupcakes with racing flags.
Possible Trivia Questions:
*The Indianapolis 500 is held every May in what city?
Speedway, Indiana
The race is traditionally held over what holiday?
Memorial Day
What year was the first race?
1911
*What was the surface of the original track?
Bricks
*How many MPG’s does an Indy car get during a race?
Less than 2 mpg!
How many women have competed in an Indy 500 race?
5 ???
How many cars are in the starting lineup of each race?
33 – 11 rows of three
Who has the pole position in this year’s race?
????
What beverage is traditionally offered to the winner in Victory Lane after each race?
Milk
What Hoosier born talk show host is partial owner of an Indy racing team?
David Letterman
*What famous racing family has had five family members compete in the Indy 500?
Hint – MARIO kart – The Andretti family – Mario, Marco, Michael, Jeff, John
*Source: http://www.indy500.com/stats/
22June, July, August
SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
Here are some links for summer reading activities/resources: http://www.cslpreads.org/.
This was WebJunction's website for summer reading 2010--check back for future theme
ideas:
http://oh.webjunction.org/ohsumread?p_p_id=OCLC_ARTICLES&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state
=normal.
Miscellaneous Event Ideas:
Bedazzled Bookcarts - have stones, ribbon, and other craft supplies available to turn
bookcarts into works of art!
Percy Jackson Event - goes great with a water theme! Examples below include archery
(see picture below), shot put (cornhole game), chariot races (book carts were decorated
and then raced through a pre-determined course…by far the favorite event), and javelin
throw (play-doh on the end of straws and thrown toward hula-hoop target).
Archery –the target is a hydra with pie plates for heads and we used a Nerf bow/arrow set
Chariot Races were a big hit!
23 Iron Chef Challenge - Similar to the popular television show, teens work to create a
"mocktail" and a dessert from various ingredients (Fruit Juice, Maraschino Cherries, Ice
Cream Sauces, fruit, chocolate chips or candies, marshmallows, etc). Points awarded for
creativity of name, taste, presentation, and best use of mystery food for each item.
Prize awarded to the highest scorer.
“Minute to Win It” inspired Program - Several "simple" challenges that teens must
complete in a minute or less. See website for challenge ideas:
http://www.nbc.com/minute-to-win-it
Summer Snacks program—have teens create healthy summer snacks they can easily
make themselves.
Craft Day — Messages in a bottle, marbleized stationery, hydro bracelets, etc. (all ideas
found in SRC manual).
Sidewalk chalk art contest - make sure teens tie in your Summer Reading theme and
it’s free publicity!
Water-themed Final Party? - event ideas: Keep your Eye on the Ball, Spray Bottle
Capture the Flag, Sponge Toss, and Shaving Cream Shoot Off (all ideas from the SRC
manual). Here are some pictures of last year’s water event at Lima Public Library:
Ice cube relay…feet only! “Leaky Cup” relay
Ice cube races (freeze figurines in ice cubes and race on a cookie sheet)
24Flip-flop Workshop
Description: Teens bring their own flip-flops to decorate, with the library providing various
embellishments.
Program Type: Active, one-time program, could also be part of a craft or summer series
Required Supplies:
Teens bring their own flip-flops.
Newspaper/material to cover tables
White craft glue or Glue gun or Beacon’s flip-flop glue from Michael’s
Variety of scissors
Beads, stickers, fancy yarn (eyelash, boa, fun fur, etc.) crocheted mini flowers,
buttons,
rhinestones, glitter, fabric flowers, small embellishments, fabric scraps, felt,
flower beads, small charms, thread, etc.
Approximate Cost: Under $30
Program Length: 1 hour
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
1+ month prior – Schedule program on library calendar, design flyers.
3 weeks prior – Post flyers in library, ask for donations of craft items and begin
promoting event to teens.
Week of event – Review website and sample projects, print pictures or create a few
samples to display, purchase remaining supplies and gather all materials for event.
Staff Requirements: 1-2 staff to supervise, and assist with gluing items
Marketing Suggestions: Put your best foot forward…
Program Source: More Teen Programs That Work, RoseMary Honnold, 2005.
Program Details: Teens bring their own flip flops and we provide materials to decorate.
Program should last about an hour. Put out pictures of decorated flip flops and sample ideas
to help teens.
Tips:
Some sites recommend Beacons flip-flop glue to help items stick.
Teens should be reminded to not wear their flip-flops to the program as they will
need 24 hours to dry after decorating.
25Sample flip-flop projects and decorating tips:
www.signaturecrafts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=4
www.associatedcontent.com/video/4682/how_to_decorate_flip_flops.html?cat=7
“TODAY AT THE LIBRARY…” FAKE PHOTO CONTEST
Description: Photo contest for teens to take a digital photo of the library, modify it using
Photoshop or similar software and create funny, shocking memorable photos following the
theme of “Today at the Library…”
Program Type: Passive program, spread over a few weeks
Required Supplies:
Prizes for winners
Method to display entries
Ballots for patrons to vote on favorite entries
Approximate Cost: Program is free, only expenses are prizes for winners.
Program Length: Program should span a total of 2-3 weeks including time to receive
entries, display photos in library and allow for patron voting.
Planning/Promotion Timeline:
2+ months prior – Get permission from library director, schedule program on library
calendar and begin contacting local vendors for prize donations.
1 month prior – Post flyers in library and possible in local camera shops, schools, etc.
Submit information to small newspapers, community calendars, etc. Decide on
contest categories and prizes.
2 weeks prior – Promote program to teens and online through blog, MySpace, etc.
Display a sample photo in teen area to promote contest. Create ballots for patron
voting and rules for entry. Create sample photo to display in teen area.
During program – When possible, display entries as soon as they are received. Keep
supply of ballots updated and possibly post entries on blog.
Staff Requirements:
Minimal staff requirements will need staff or volunteers to place photos on display and
monitor voting.
Collection Connection/Related Books:
Create a display of photography and photo editing books near entries.
26Marketing Suggestions:
What really goes on at the library when no one is looking? Exactly what was left in the
bookdrop? What landed on the roof of the library? Who’s that coming through the front
entrance? Use your imagination and your camera to show us what really happened “Today
at the Library”! Were penguins browsing the global warming books? Did the Star Trek
Enterprise try to land on the roof? Was Michigan’s coach caught checking out Football for
Dummies? You shoot a photo, edit it to show the best, funniest, most shocking things that
happened today at the library! Submit it for the contest, we’ll display it in the library and
patrons can pick the winners.
Program Source:
Adapted from an idea in YALSA’s 2007 Teen Read Week theme, “LOL @ Your Library”
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/trw/trw2007/activities.cfm
Program Details:
This is intended to be a passive program, lasting a few weeks, that could incorporate all
branches of the library. Teens will take a photo of the library (any angle, inside or out) and
modify it using photo editing software. Entries should reflect the theme of “Today at the
Library…” and can include a short funny caption for the photo. Entries should be displayed in
the library and ballots made available for teens and adults to vote for their favorites.
Categories might include best Photoshop skills, funniest, most shocking, best caption, best
overall. Prizes could include cash, gift certificates to camera stores, certificate for classes at
camera shop or art classes, small digital or video camera.
Notes:
Contact local camera stores and/or for possible prize donations.
Provide list of online free photo-editing software teens can use to modify their
entries – Google’s Picasa, Photoscape, Gimp, Paint.net, etc.
Encourage teens to be super-creative and all the various spaces in the library,
the book drop, the children’s area, local history collection, etc.
NATIONAL CLOWN WEEK
Description: Celebrate National Clown Week (the first week of August) with a short
program teaching a true clown skill – making balloon animals.
Program Type: Active, one-time
Required Supplies:
Display of balloon art books
Supply of special balloons and pumps for making balloon art
27You can also read
